New International Terminal

Five or six widebodies a day in a terminal built for far more

T1’s New International Terminal at Viracopos (VCP) handles Azul’s long‑haul hub plus Gol and LATAM Brasil, but FlyerTalk regulars count only about five or six international arrivals and departures on a typical day. The building is big, glassy, and modern, and at off‑peak times it can feel almost empty compared with São Paulo–Guarulhos. If you like short lines and quiet gates, this is one of the easier international entries into Brazil.

All international flights use T1, with check‑in desks on the departures level and security plus passport control directly upstairs; allow 15–20 minutes from curb to gate in normal conditions. Azul’s international counters are usually the busiest during evening bank times, roughly 18:00–22:00, when the US and Europe flights cluster. Gol and LATAM have smaller check‑in footprints, so it pays to confirm your exact island before you queue.

Once you clear immigration on arrival, baggage claim for international flights sits just beyond customs and is sized for widebodies, not regional jets; a full A330 load can still be off the belt in about 20–30 minutes according to recent reports. One FlyerTalk poster called the whole arrival flow “easy and painless,” especially when comparing it with the hour‑plus they were used to at GRU. Ground transport counters and taxi stands are just outside, so you’re curbside in five minutes after exiting customs if you walk with purpose.

On departures, the gate concourse runs as a single long pier with multiple jetbridge positions used by Azul’s A330s and A321neos; expect some walking, up to 8–10 minutes, if you end up at a far end gate. Because the terminal was built for more traffic than it has, seating near many gates goes unused outside the evening push. That “overbuilt” feeling is the main complaint on FlyerTalk: great when you want space, slightly annoying when your gate assignment shifts and adds a few hundred extra meters of walking.

Food options cluster airside after passport control, with international brands mixed with Brazilian chains along the main spine. You’ll see Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and a generic Pizzeria all within a five‑minute walk of most gates. Local picks include Café do Ponto for a quick espresso, Brazilian Grill for a plate of rice, beans, and meat, Pasta e Pizza for carb loading before an overnight, and a small Patisserie and Gelato stand for dessert.

Prices run airport‑standard: expect a Starbucks cappuccino to land around R$12–15, a Burger King combo in the R$30–40 range, and a more complete meal at Brazilian Grill or Pasta e Pizza closer to R$50–70 per person. For a sit‑down plate that actually feels like lunch or dinner, head to Brazilian Grill rather than relying on fast food. If you just need something to take to the gate, Subway and Taco Bell move quickest during the pre‑flight rush between 19:00 and 21:00.

There are currently no branded airline lounges catalogued in the New International Terminal, so plan as if you’ll spend the full pre‑flight window in the public seating areas. Power outlets are scattered along the gate rows, usually in the floor boxes every few seats; bring a Type N adapter and a USB brick. If you’re used to Polaris or LATAM VIP lounges at GRU, don’t burn a long connection just to sit in VCP’s general seats.

Duty free is handled by Dufry, with main Duty Free and Duty Free Shopping stores right after passport control and again near the boarding gates; look for the larger shop just past immigration for the full liquor and perfume ranges. Fashion and accessories include Armani, Calvin Klein Jeans, Chilli Beans, Acium, and Flair Shop, along with Hudson for magazines and snacks and Drogasil for pharmacy needs. If you want time to price out bottles, walk the big Dufry near immigration first, then compare with the smaller gate‑side unit before paying.

One last tip: because the terminal is oversized for the current schedule, security and immigration can be extremely fast off‑peak, but the restaurants sometimes close earlier than you’d expect; don’t assume hot food after 22:00. If you’re on a late Azul departure to the US or Europe, grab dinner landside in Campinas or eat immediately after check‑in, then head to the gate about 45–60 minutes before boarding.